By Don Urquhart, Times-Chronicle

Two local schools – Tuc-el-Nuit Elementary in Oliver and Osoyoos Elementary – have notified parents that the schools have crossed the threshold triggering an alert that COVID-19 activity may be on the rise.

“Based on a review of attendance patterns, we have determined we have met a COVID-19 potential activity signal in our school. A potential activity signal is a threshold based on school or class attendance,” read the two identical form letters, separately signed by Osoyoos Elementary School Principal David Foster and Tuc-el-Nuit Elementary Principal Patsy-Anne Takacs.

“We will inform, and work with Interior Health to determine if additional actions are needed. Because people are absent for many reasons, we do not know if there is increased COVID-19 activity at our school.”

Takacs told the Times-Chronicle on Monday that the school hit a point where its absentee rate was significantly higher than historical averages. “Our numbers fluctuate every day, and not all students absent were away due to illness.”

The principal said they are not considering a temporary closure or online learning.

“In-person learning remains top priority, and thankfully we had less students away today than late last week.”

Takacs said the letter serves as a good reminder about the importance of letting the school know of reasons for a student’s absence, as this is how they are monitoring COVID in the community.

Similarly at Osoyoos Elementary School, Foster confirmed to the Times-Chronicle that the letter was triggered by attendance levels according to the model suggested by provincial health and education authorities of roughly 10 per cent over normal absentee figures.

Going forward, Foster said the school will continue to monitor the numbers, “and we’re hoping the wave passes quickly and we can resume with full attendance.” He added that he will be sharing another letter with parents shortly.

Foster also said that the school is still waiting on the arrival of rapid antigen tests. “I don’t know about the rest of the schools but they haven’t arrived here yet,” he said.

This was to be a key part of the province’s strategy – rolling out the tests for staff first and later for parents to self-test their school-age children.

When the strategy for schools was announced nearly three weeks ago provincial health authorities said absenteeism would be tapped as a ‘canary in the coal mine’ of whether a COVID-19 outbreak was underway.

“In schools, absenteeism will be a trigger to inform the health authority and school community that an outbreak may be underway,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s Provincial Health Officer.

Because contact tracing was rendered useless by the much shorter incubation period of the Omicron variant, a ‘proxy’ was needed to understand what is happening with transmission in schools.

Although no hard and fast number was given, B.C.’s Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside said school administration officials, including principals, will make the call on school closures and moving to temporary online classes.

An absenteeism rate of around 10 per cent higher than normal would be a rough gauge, said Whiteside, noting that prior to the COVID-19 pandemic this level of absenteeism would normally trigger the involvement of public health.

But aside from student absenteeism, there is the issue of staff absences which could result in a functional closure of schools.

The letters “strongly encourage” students and families to complete a daily health check, stay home when sick and seek testing when recommended.

“Whenever a child is away from school, it is critical that parents/guardians contact the school with an update on the reason the student is away. This communication allows us to update our records accurately and assists us in communication with public health.”

School closures discussed

It hasn’t happened yet, but COVID-19 could force the closure of a school in your neighbourhood. That’s why the district is preparing for the possibility.

Superintendent of Schools Bev Young said a functional closure is if and when staff cannot operate a school due to lack of workforce.

“We have not hit this threshold yet but we wanted to be prepared with a framework that would guide next steps,” she said.

In a letter to parents, Young said schools have been planning for continuity of learning if a school needs to be closed temporarily. For example, a shift to remote/online learning.

“We need to be prepared for a day when there may be a high number of staff away due to illness.”

Young said Interior Health could recommend a functional closure due to a high COVID case count in or related to a school.

The superintendent said the district will initiate a number of strategies to avoid closing a school, such as combining classes due to high student absenteeism. The district can also deploy staff where relief staff cannot be found, she pointed out.

Absenteeism of bus drivers can result in the closure of certain transportation routes. These closures will be posted on the district/school website by 7 a.m. that morning.

“This is a new reality and complexity for all of us,” Young said of the plan.

With files by Lyonel Doherty